If you are the son of God…

By Sidharth Mohandas

[This is a continuation on the Going into deeper things series]

First of all you and I need to know that we have an enemy and his purpose is to loot our lives and destroy us so that we do not fulfill God’s purpose in our life. He lies, he deceives, he intimidates, he accuses to keep us from pressing on. Satan’s lies, deceptions, intimidations and accusations are primarily focused on “who you are”. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness the temptation was aimed at who Jesus was. He [satan] said, “If you are the Son of God…” [Matthew 4:3,6]. In the same manner, my friends, satan’s first weapon of attack is intimidating and accusing you about your position with God.

But Scripture says, But by HIS doing you are in Christ Jesus [1 Corinthians 1:30a].

That you are His son is completely HIS doing. You can’t earn that position you have with Him, neither can you work for it. I have lived under the notion that if I spent more time in prayer, fasting and reading the Word, then I’d be more of a son, and if I sinned I would lose my position as a son. This performance-oriented lifestyle has truly drained the joy so many times and put on me a burden that God never wanted me to carry. I would strive to be someone whom God had already made me [a son]. Satan wants you to try to achieve this position that God has already given to you when you accepted what Jesus had done for you. 

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [Romans 8:16-17]

Satan wants to intimidate you and put you in bondage of fear of your position with God. He wants you to feel unworthy to receive this position of a son, and this makes you try to achieve it. But God has given you a Spirit of a Son. What if we sin? Do we lose our sonship or position? Let’s read 1 John 2:1 “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” . If you and I do sin, we have an advocate with whom? Just God? No, with the Father!

Who you are in Christ, I say again, is the basis for the enemies lies and accusations. But remember, your position as a son does not depend on your doing, it depends on HIS DOING.

Does this mean that we can disobey God and expect all things to go well ? By no means! Without obeying God you and I can never experience the benefits and blessings of our position as sons, even though we’d still be sons . This brings great joy to us and lifts a heavy burden off of us… When the seventy disciples came to Jesus all excited saying, “Lord, even the demons subject to us in Your name” [Luke 10:17], Jesus responds and says, However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. [Luke 10:20] Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in the works they did in His name, but to rejoice in their position in heaven.

Now beloved, you must realize that naturally a son of the Kingdom of God is led by the Spirit and will be obedient. And it is also natural for a son to respond to problems and circumstances rejoicing, praying without ceasing and giving thanks in all things. To respond any other way would be like the son of the King walking like a beggar in the streets. If we haven’t been behaving as sons, I encourage you first of all to start walking in the confidence that you are sons and daughters of God and that too only by His doing and then secondly start responding to life like how a son of God would naturally respond.

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